NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Some of the brightest young minds in the Commonwealth will meet at the Department of Energy's Jefferson Lab on Saturday, Feb. 2, to compete in the Virginia Regional High School Science Bowl. Twenty teams, representing high schools from across the region are registered for this year's academic competition.
The National Science Bowl® tournament - sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy since 1991 - is an annual, academic competition among teams of students. The teams face off in an intense question-and-answer format where contestants are quizzed on their knowledge in math and on all science disciplines, including biology, chemistry, physics, earth science and astronomy.
"These events champion an interest in science, math and engineering among our nation's youth," notes Jan Tyler, Jefferson Lab's Science Education manager.
The top three teams from this event will earn cash prizes for their respective schools. The top team also wins an expenses-paid trip to the Science Bowl Nationals held near Washington, D.C., May 1-6. The team winning the national championship will get its choice of three science-related trips, which include locations in the U.S., France and England.
"DOE's National Science Bowl encourages our nation's students to become the next generation of innovators propelling our country and world into a prosperous and more secure future through scientific discovery," Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman said recently. "As a training ground for young minds, this tough competition furthers President Bush's initiatives aimed at ensuring America's strong competitive edge for decades to come."
The public is invited to attend the semifinal and final rounds of the Feb. 2 competition at Jefferson Lab, which will run from 1:30-5 p.m. in Jefferson Lab's CEBAF Center auditorium located at 12000 Jefferson Ave., Newport News, Va. For security purposes, visitors must enter at Jefferson Lab's main entrance (Onnes Dr.). Everyone 16 and older is asked to carry a valid photo I.D., and security guards may perform parcel and vehicle inspections.
Jefferson Lab will also host the Virginia Regional Middle School Science Bowl on Saturday, March 1.
Virginia high schools registered for the 2008 event include (in alphabetical order):
Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School, Virginia Beach
Broadwater Academy, Exmore
Floyd E. Kellam High School, Virginia Beach
Grafton High School, Yorktown
Harrisonburg High School, Harrisonburg
Hickory High School, Chesapeake (2 teams)
Langley High School, McLean
Mount Vernon High School, Alexandria
New Kent High School, New Kent
Northampton High School, Eastville
Northside High School, Roanoke
Piedmont Governor's School, Martinsville
Princess Anne High School, Virginia Beach (2 teams)
St. Christopher's School, Richmond
St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School, Alexandria
The Governor's School for Science and Technology, Hampton
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria
Woodbridge Senior High School, Woodbridge
To learn more about DOE's National Science Bowl competition, visit: http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/nsb/index.html
For more information about the National High School Science Bowl, visit: http://www.scied.science.doe.gov/nsb/
Check out the types of questions students will answer at: www.scied.science.doe.gov/nsb/samplqs.htm
View DOE's 2008 Science Bowl press release at: http://energy.gov/news/5874.htm